Leeds comfortably secured Premier League survival last season, finishing fourteenth after promotion and also reaching the FA Cup semi-finals.
How would you assess that first season back and what were your expectations heading into this campaign?
A really successful first season back.
I would’ve taken seventeenth on goal difference so to have such a strong end to the season was really promising.
I don’t think any Leeds fans relaxed until we were mathematically safe, but it was so refreshing to see a Leeds team in the Premier League that didn’t embarrass us week after week and had grit and determination.
Leeds currently sit seventh with ten points from their opening seven matches.
Have you been surprised by how well the season has started, and has it changed what supporters believe this team can achieve?
I’m not completely surprised as I think we handily upgraded the core of our team over the summer.
You’ll always have a good start if you’re settled
and we smartly upgraded the core of what’s a really settled unit.
I think it’s made supporters realise we shouldn’t get drawn into any relegation battle. And some supporters will now believe we can achieve Europe this season.
However, I personally disagree, and even though we’re solid, I think limitations mean that mid-table is what our team can realistically achieve.
Daniel Farke has now had several years to shape this Leeds side and establish the club back in the Premier League.
How highly is he regarded by supporters at this stage, and how has his approach evolved since promotion?
It’s a weird one with Farke.
I think the ghost of Marcelo Bielsa has hovered over every appointment since, and Daniel has certainly struggled with matching the expectations created by Marcelo.
However, Farke is regarded highly — even if grudgingly — by some supporters. He has massively evolved since promotion and is now far more pragmatic and manages to squeeze a lot more out of a unit than he ever seemed to before.
Even when we were flying in the Championship, a lot of that seemed to be because of the players rather than him. However, despite how well he’s doing and has evolved, I think there still is a ceiling if he want to progress beyond just being solid.
Saying that, though, he’s a very steady captain of the ship and you need to appreciate what you’ve got, because things could go downhill rapidly without him.
Leeds drew 1-1 with Manchester United last weekend, having also beaten Newcastle 4-1 and taken a point away at Brighton already this season.
Which performance has given you the most encouragement so far?
That point away at Brighton is looking better by the week! But I think the Newcastle one is still the most encouraging.
Our biggest weakness is probably our attacking unit (Dominic Calvert-Lewin aside) and so any performance where we score goals is encouraging. The Manchester United result is weirdly pretty disappointing as right now, our biggest rivals feel there for the taking.
The club made seven additions during the summer, including James Trafford, Harry Wilson, Tarik Muharemović and Nico Elvedi.
How happy were you with the transfer window and which of the new signings has impressed you most?
We’ve had our fair share of bad transfer windows so Leeds fans are often wary and usually assume we’re going to “mess things up” (deadline day has been particularly painful).
However, on reflection, it was a great transfer window and really created a solid unit that will always make you competitive.
Muharemović was an inspired signing and Nico Elvedi also looks like a great one. Harry Wilson the only one that has been pretty disappointing so far and doesn’t look quite up to our intensity.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is Leeds’ leading scorer with four Premier League goals and has earned an England recall, although he’s a doubt for today through injury.
How important has he become to this team?
I can’t sing DCL’s praises enough. He’s the perfect striker in his all-round play and we look far better when he plays.
People talk about his finishing but when he does everything right, and still scores, you can’t really complain. If he doesn’t play vs Sunderland, we’ll be far worse off for it.
Calvert-Lewin, Anton Stach and Noah Okafor are all major doubts for the trip to Sunderland, while Joe Rodon remains out, although Daniel James is back in contention.
How much would those potential absences affect Leeds today?
Massively.
DCL is so important for us. Stach is an absolute monster in the middle and Okafor is our main spark in attack.
If all three are out, that’s 100% advantage Sunderland but Farke has often exaggerated things and plays mind games with these things.
Leeds have recently been using a 3-4-2-1 system, with Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka playing important roles through the middle.
What are the biggest strengths of this side tactically, and where are they still vulnerable?
Biggest strengths: central midfield, centre backs, wing backs.
A very solid unit that always looks competitive even when not playing that well. Our set pieces and physicality are also very suited for the Premier League.
Weaknesses: DCL and Okafor are great, but in attack it often can look like we don’t have much of a plan except to launch it up to DCL, and can look flat.
If you also allow us to dominate and sit on the counter we lack creativity, we can look far stronger on the counter. I still think Farke is limited in tactical nous compared to the best managers in this league and this lack of tactical flexibility can be exposed.
Sunderland took four points from Leeds last season, drawing 1-1 at the Stadium of Light before winning 1-0 at Elland Road.
From what you’ve seen of Sunderland since, where do you think they can cause Leeds the most problems on Sunday?
From sitting back and hitting us on the counter.
Régis Le Bris has looked tactically superior in a few of the games and if we don’t get an early goal or Sunderland do, it could be a tough watch with us trying to break Sunderland down.
Finally, what type of game are you expecting at the Stadium of Light?
Who do you think could be the difference-maker for Leeds and what is your score prediction?
I expect a very cagey game.
Sunderland need the win and we will be pretty tight as always in defence.
I’d love to see Wilson finally pay back his big wages and show how he can be a difference maker in attack, especially with some of our big attackers injured.
I’ve put 1-0 to Sunderland on my Super 6, but I’ve got to back my team if I’m representing us here, so I’m going to go 0-1 Leeds, with the winner being a Wilson free kick.
